Hand on heart, we all want Chris to stay on as the boss
WALES’ most senior star has led an impassioned dressing room plea to ensure Chris Coleman remains as manager, saying it would make “absolutely no sense” to allow him to walk away from the national job.
Coleman’s contract expires this month and, with talks over a new deal in the balance, tonight’s match against Panama could well be the 47-year-old’s final match in charge of the side he led into history.
The former defender is still waiting to see if the FAW are willing to offer assurances over full-time deals for key staff and investment into infrastructure and facilities before knowing if he is ready to commit to a potential two-year deal.
But now Chris Gunter – who will equal Gary Speed’s record as Wales’ most capped outfield player tonight – has thrown his weight behind the manager in a heartfelt appeal over Coleman’s future.
Gunter, who will captain a youthful Wales side in the Cardiff City Stadium friendly in the absence of Ashley Williams, said: “Whenever a player gets asked the question in an interview, the line is always the same: you want the manager to stay?
“But, with us, I can’t understand – and I wouldn’t know – one fan, one player, one person in Welsh football, who wouldn’t want him to stay.
“He is the greatest manager in Wales’ history, the things he’s done for this country is incredible. And the last thing this group of players need is for him to leave.
“Truthfully, hand on heart, I can promise you it’s the same from every member of the squad, we want him to stay, it would make absolutely no sense to let Chris Coleman leave Wales. We need him to stay, that’s what every single player wants – and it’s not your stock line, that’s God’s honest truth.”
Gunter will win his 85th cap in the game which will see a number of youngsters given timely experience ahead of the next qualifying campaign, with Everton star Williams confirmed as being rested while Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has also headed back to his club.
But the Reading full-back says that the approach to the match has been no different from Coleman, despite the possibility it will be the 49th and final game in charge since replacing the much-missed Speed in January 2012.
Gunter says the likes of Ben Woodburn, Ethan Ampadu and David Brooks – who all won caps in the 2-0 defeat to France on Friday night – have added a freshness to the camp, with their appearances helping them to further feel part of a squad atmosphere and culture he says is all down to the manager.
“As a manager he’s very good, talented, with very good knowledge and tactically we’ve been very good, which is important,” said the 28-year-old. “But the thing that separates him from a lot of managers is the way he is a person.
“The atmosphere he’s created in the squad and in the team hotel is the best it’s ever been.
“Fans and media only see the end result on a match day, but for us in the hotel, you can’t just say we need a good atmosphere and a good feeling in the squad, it has to be made but also be natural.
“He is the main reason it’s like that.
“We’ve got good characters and we all get on, but it all comes from him and his staff.
“That is the difference. I know players always say this about their manager, but bring any player to speak about him, if it’s ever announced he’s staying, it would be the best bit of news we could have as a squad.”